Memory Lane 2009 - Scott Jones' Photos From Qatar

It is a tradition to look back at the end of the year, and pick out the highlights of the season. Certainly for us at MotoMatters.com, the highlights have been Scott Jones' beautiful photos. Having paddock access for the first time meant that Scott could attend more races and take better photos. Over the next few days, we'll be going back and selecting a few of our favorites from among the very many beautiful shots Scott took for us. If you see any photos you'd like to have on your wall, then drop Scott an email to ask about pricing. And if you want to help us do it all over again in 2010, then head over to the donate page and send us a contribution. Here are some of Scott Jones' photos from Qatar to help persuade you of the wisdom of that decision.

Of the 18 men who started the season, three would be gone by Valencia

The night race at Qatar may be weird, but it does generate some spectacular photos of sparks ...

... or shift lights, as Chris Vermeulen's visor demonstrates

Casey Stoner started the season as he meant to go on

The Hayate, it had barely changed 7 months later

Sete Gibernau's Ducati. The bloodthirsty leader of Equatorial Guinea never did come through with the cash

Loris Capirossi proving old and fast are not mutually exclusive

Probably the revelation of 2009: Jorge Lorenzo

Casey Stoner doing the light fantastic

Sete Gibernau - could his return be a warning to Michael Schumacher?

Energy drink sponsorship has taken the place of tobacco, but with less generous budgets

James Toseland's stunning debut in 2008 was not repeated in 2009

Yuki Takahashi started the season on the Scot Honda, but didn't finish it

Valentino Rossi lights up the Qatari night with his brakes

It never rains in the desert. Well, almost never ...

Mika Kallio had an up and down year

Say what you like, but the boy can ride

Marco Simoncelli turned up at Qatar with a broken wrist, but couldn't race in the end

Mattia Pasini's season was stymied by Team Toth's financial incompetence

Nicky Hayden's blown engine at Qatar was a sign of the tough year which was to follow

Andrea Dovizioso didn't fulfil the potential he showed in 2008

The unlikely champion: things finally came good for Hiroshi Aoyama in 2009

If there was a revelation in the 250cc class, it was surely Jules Cluzel

The LCR Honda was supposed to run Playboy sponsorship on Randy de Puniet's bike at Qatar